Whisky 101: A Guide For Beginners

The art of drinking whisky is a complex one – much like wine. With a rich history that spans hundreds of years, complex craftsmanship, and a multitude of choices from around the globe, it can take years to hone your whisky-drinking experience.

To that end, here’s a guide on the basics you need to know about whisky: how to drink it like a pro and the different types to check out.

For starters, the right drinking vessel matters. Whisky connoisseurs recommend either a tumbler (a short glass with a heavy bottom) or a tulip-shaped glass, which allows you to swirl the liquid while it releases aromas.

Neat, with water or on the rocks? The choice is yours, but for first-timers, it is best to enjoy it neat and at room temperature to appreciate the whisky in its pure state as its distiller intended. If the whisky feels too strong or bitter, gradually add a few drops of water with a straw or pipette to ‘open up’ its flavours and allow them to come through as both liquids combine.

If you prefer to enjoy your whisky chilled, add a large block of ice – as opposed to small ice cubes or ice chips – so that it will melt slower and not immediately dilute your whisky.

Like wine, a large part of a whisky’s flavour comes from its scent – so take a moment to savour its aroma. Bring the glass up to your nose and take short, sharp sniffs while swirling the liquid. After a few minutes of nosing, take a sip of the whisky and roll the liquid around in your mouth as you try to detect the inherent flavours.

Some whiskies may contain strong notes of oak, while others contain fruity or sweet notes of vanilla and toffee. It is best to cleanse your palate with chilled water in between sips.

Now that you’ve mastered the basics of whisky drinking, the next step (and undoubtedly the most important one) is picking the best whisky for you. With a world of whiskies out there, the choices are endless. Get to know some of the different whisky types available from around the globe.

The history of whisky dates back hundreds of years but its earliest historical evidence was recorded in 1494, when aqua vitae (Latin for 'the water of life') was mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland. Since then, whisky has become the country’s greatest export, with approximately 40 bottles being shipped around the world every second.

To be officially classed as Scotch whisky, it must be produced in Scotland and matured in oak casks for a minimum of three years. With many varieties – single malt, single grain and blended – scotch typically has an earthy and smoky flavour, that varies according to which of the five Scottish regions the whisky comes from.

The Glendronach 27 Years 1992 is a great Scotch whisky to start with. Bearing a distinctive burnished ruby colour, this single malt was aged for 27 years in a Spanish sherry cask and features notes of cherries, plums, cocoa, spices, and lingering white truffle for a full-bodied sip. Other standout single malts to try include the 18 year-old Jura Single Malt Scotch Whisky and Dalmore Highland Single Malt Whisky Cigar Malt Reserve.

For those who prefer fruity notes, Glengoyne Cask Strength Batch 7 offers a deliciously rich taste that is packed with notes of apple crumble, cinnamon, orange, peaches, and honey. Alternatively, try the Tomintoul 15 Yo Portwood Finish, which tempers the notes of summer fruits, strawberries, and blackberries with some toffee sweetness and cigar box spiciness for a full and rich taste.

With only 4,500 cases available worldwide, the limited edition Glenallachie Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky Cask Strength Batch 3 is rich with notes of heather honey, vanilla and toffee, combined with orange zest, eucalyptus, cinnamon, and Caribbean spices.

Like its Scottish counterpart, the history of Irish whiskey (spelt with an ‘e’) dates back hundreds of years. The main difference between Scotch and Irish whiskey? Though both are usually matured for at least three years, Scotch whisky generally has a fuller taste, while Irish whiskey on the other hand, is known for its lighter and smooth flavour with hints of vanilla.

Take for example Currach Irish Single Malt Whisky. Distilled in the West Cork town of Skibbereen, it uses traditional Irish distillation techniques and is then triple distilled in copper pot stills to create an aromatic single malt with rich flavours of toffee, raisins, hints of almond, and a roasted kombu aroma.

It is further complemented with notes of Arabic roast coffee, salted caramel, and dark chocolate for a persistent yet delicately sweet maritime finish.

American whiskey comes in many forms, such as Tennessee whiskey and rye whiskey. The most famous type is bourbon – named after Bourbon county in Kentucky – which must be made from at least 51% corn.

With bourbon, one can usually expect an abundance of sweetness, smoothness, and flavour as they are made up of a mixture of corn, rye, wheat, and barley (collectively known as the mash). For instance, Peerless Straight Bourbon Whiskey features a juxtaposition of the sweet and spicy notes from citrus, florals, sweet oak, dry cocoa, cinnamon, and spicy oak. 

For a more complex sip, try Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. It consists of more than 200 detectable flavour notes, ranging from fruits and florals to sweet aromatics and wood.

Old Forester Statesman takes inspiration from the dashing characters in the film Kingsman: The Golden Circle to create the Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky. It offers a balance of heat and spice by blending notes of pepper, cinnamon bark, and sharp citrus that fade into an intense orange cream and caramel finish. The result is a woody yet sweet bourbon with rich notes of caramel and vanilla.

Unlike most bourbons, the Maker's Mark 46 is aged to taste, not time. Through its flavour profile, the distillery’s tasting panel determines when the whisky is ready for the world.

Whisky may not be the first drink that comes to mind when you think of Japan. But you’d be surprised to know that its history dates as far back as the 1800s. Inspired by Scottish production techniques, many Japanese whisky companies adopt the “Western technology, Japanese spirit” strategy to produce some of the best whiskies in the world – with a distinctively Japanese twist, naturally.

Kamiki Whisky Intense Blended Malt Whisky is the first in the world to boast a Japanese Cedar cask finish. Blessed by Omiwa priests from Nara, this premium Japanese-style whisky uses a unique second maturation technique by letting the blend rest for a second time in Japanese cedar casks. This lends itself strong notes of sandalwood and green tea driven by pure malted barley. 

Founded in 1883, the Masahiro Distillery can trace its history back to the Ryukyu Kingdom era. Its Kujira 10 Years Old Single Grain Whisky offers a complex tasting profile with every sip; rich, buttery notes of caramel combined with cloves, cinnamon and other spices give it a bittersweet finish.

If you prefer a lighter option, try Suntory's Hibiki Harmony Japanese Whisky. This unique blended whisky boasts a delicate mix of rose, lychee, candied orange peel, and white chocolate notes – with a hint of mizunara (Japanese oak).

While other countries on this list pride themselves with hundreds of years of whisky-making, Taiwan only started production in 2006 – making it a newcomer to watch. Thanks to the country’s subtropical climate, its whisky is able to mature two to three times faster than it would in Scotland or Ireland.

As a young producer, distillers in Taiwan have the freedom and flexibility to experiment. Case in point: Kavalan Distillery, the country’s most prominent whisky maker, has clinched numerous industry awards globally for its innovative creations.

The second edition of the Kavalan Distillery Select series showcases the distillery’s fine art of blending and the exquisite cask selection. It delivers a deeply aromatic drinking experience that begins with floral, grassy aromas and gentle vanilla blending, before finishing off with hints of woody and spicy notes.

For those new to whisky-drinking, Kavalan Oloroso Sherry Oak is the perfect single malt whisky to start with. Its clean and well-balanced flavours feature multiple layers of dried fruit, spices, marzipan, and vanilla touches.

Scotch whisky was first introduced to India in the 19th century and to date, the country is one of the world’s largest whisky consumers. Indian whisky rose to global fame with Amrut, a local distillery that produced the country’s first ever single malt whisky in 1982.

The Amrut Single Malt Whisky is a product of 20 years of research and is made from select Indian malted barley grown in Punjab and Rajasthan. These regions’ climates create a unique quality of grain that is rich in flavour.

As a result, the whisky is imbued with notes of molasses sugar that gets spicier and drier with each sip, and butterscotch vanilla for a comfortable and clean finale.